SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE ASSOCIATION JOIN CONSERVATION AND FISHING ALLIANCE

Key Stakeholders Groups Join United Anglers of Southern California, Coastside Fishing Club and American Sportfishing Association to Work for Conservation with Recreational Access

IRVINE, Calif. (July 19, 2007) – It was announced today that two well-established and successful sportfishing industry groups — the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) and Southern California Marine Association (SCMA) — have joined forces with United Anglers of Southern California (UASC), Coastside Fishing Club and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), three organizations proactively working to ensure healthy marine resources while providing a robust and sustainable recreational fishery for Southern California.

“Our goal is to bring Californians marine conservation with great access for recreational fishing and boating,” said Tom Raftican, president of UASC.  “It will take strong partners and a solid alliance to see this through, which is why we recently joined forces with ASA (the leading national sportfishing industry association based in Alexandria, Va.) and our Coastside Fishing Club brothers to the North.   Now, two more important industry organizations have joined our growing team.  These organizations share a common vision and make what was already a great alliance even better.  All of us look forward to working alongside SAC President Bob Fletcher and SCMA President Dave Geoffrey, and welcome their input, energy and participation,” added Raftican.

According to Raftican, each of these organizations brings a unique perspective on the challenges the industry and Californians as a whole face in the coming months and years.   SAC is a non-profit organization of landing owners, skippers, crews and owners of sportfishing, bait and sport diving boats from Morro Bay to San Diego.   SAC’s member boats carry between 700,000 and one million passengers annually out to local banks, islands and into Mexican waters.  For many years, SAC has promoted reasonable conservation while looking after the best interests of the many businesses and families that depend on sportfishing, as well as the millions of Californians for whom recreational fishing is a passion.

SCMA was formed to promote boating in Southern California for the benefit of the industry, its members and the public, and to work on a range of issues that affect boating including legislation, education and boating safety.  Jim Hendricks, past member of the SCMA board of directors and current UASC board member, understands the important direct link between boating and fishing.  “Studies have long shown that recreational fishing is one of the primary reasons people own and use their boats,” Hendricks said.  “Fishing and boating are two industries that share  common lifeblood — access — and right now that is being threatened on several fronts.   Together, along with our other important partners, we can make a stronger impact and present a unified front.  This teamwork will be vital as we work our way through some complicated issues, especially the future implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act in Southern California,” Hendricks added.